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| Iraq |
| President-Elect Donald Trump Brings Renewed Hope to Kurds |
| 2016-11-18 |
| [Breitbart] As the reality of President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s dramatic victory began to sink in around the world, at least one region’s leaders popped open the champagne ‐ if only metaphorically speaking, as they are Muslim. The Kurdish People -- America’s steadfast allies in Iraq -- also feel taken for granted by President Obama’s foreign policy, and long for a course correction. During the primaries, candidate Trump declared his solidarity with the Kurdish people on at least three separate occasions, establishing his position early on. Trump allies recently elaborated, expressing openness to the idea of an independent Kurdistan. Secretary Hillary Clinton paid lip service to the Kurds during general election debates, but laced with nuanced caveats. She mentioned the intention to "consider" arming the Kurdish forces, but within the context of a united Iraq. As Kurdish participation in liberating areas from the Islamic State draws to a close, the issue would become politically and practically irrelevant by the time that her Pentagon would start assessing a change in policy. There are very compelling recent and historic reasons that the Kurds hold hope that President-Elect Trump represents an opportunity to break from a status quo of neglect and betrayal. Writing as someone who has been on the front lines on multiple occasions, it is an injustice to see the Kurdish forces endure years of ambush suicide attacks by ISIS jihadists emboldened with captured American equipment once provided to the Iraqi Army. Holding a 600-mile front against the deadliest terrorists in the world isn’t easy when lacking the essentials: vehicles, munitions, night vision, medical supplies. Ironically, the Kurdish forces sometimes get an upgrade when they capture American equipment from the Islamic State. Con't. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #1 During the primaries, candidate Trump declared his solidarity with the Kurdish people on at least three separate occasions, establishing his position early on. Trump allies recently elaborated, expressing openness to the idea of an independent Kurdistan. Let's hope he sticks to it. The Kurds deserve it, and would I believe be staunch allies. With the 3-for of screwing the Turks, Iranians and feckless Arabs all at the same time. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2016-11-18 03:25 |